YORK Green Party councillors are calling on all parties to work together to find the best way forward for running the city council.

The party retained their four seats in the local elections and received a 17 per cent share of votes across the city of York. The Liberal Democrats were the big winners, ending up with 21 councillors. Labour finished up with 17 seats, while the Conservatives suffered heavy losses, with just two councillors elected.

York Green Party group leader and Fishergate councillor Andy D’Agorne said: “We are now clearly established as the close challenger to Labour across the city centre, retaining our four council seats in Fishergate, Guildhall and Micklegate and in second place in Clifton, Heworth, Holgate and Hull Road wards.

"But we had successes in the outer wards as well, with Carole Green narrowly missing out by 29 votes to independent John Galvin in Bishopthorpe and Ginnie Shaw securing a respectable placing behind the Conservatives in the Osbaldwick and Derwent Ward.”

With no party achieving an overall majority again, York Green Party councillors want all parties to work together and talk with each other about the best working arrangement for running City of York Council.

The Green councillors say a conclusion to these discussions may take some time.

Cllr D’Agorne added: “Councillors from every group voted recently to declare a climate emergency in response to the ticking climate crisis clock.

"We are also suffering traffic and congestion chaos and seeing years and years of austerity leaving their marks on the city and its residents.

"York Greens have always shown that we want to cooperate for the common good. We are happy to talk with everyone on how to bring York together again and embrace the challenges of our time.”